Gage.



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Pl M. FREER.

GAGE.

APPLICATION HLED luNE 2;,1913.

Patented Deo. 28, 1915.

r .j ATENE@ FIFIM.

PHELPS ivi. FREER, or DETROIT. MICHIGAN, AssIGNOR To A. scHRAnER's soN, INC., or BROOKLYN, Nnw YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.-

GAGE.

Application filed .Tune 21, 1913.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PHELPs M. FREER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a-certain new and useful Improvement in Gages, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a gage for indicating the quantity of liquid within a receptacle.

The object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described, which will be simple of construction and accurate and reliable in operation, and wherein, owing to the tendency of the indicating member to move from a position indicating a low level toward a position indicating a high level, the "float as it rises is enabled to control such movement without being required to lift the weight of the indicating member.

The invention consists in the provision in a device having a float with suitable guiding means, of an indicating member the movement of which is adapted to be controlled by the float in its:l rising movement, for

. which purpose it is inclined relative to the path of movement of the float and is suitably controlled therefrom, and in providing the indicating member with means independent of the float which tend to move the indicating membeuv from the position of low level to the position of higher level so that the indicating member has a tendency to move in the direction in which the float would cause it to move if' such movement were solely produced by the rising movement of the float. According to my invention, therefore, the float permits or controls such movement and is not called upon to provide 'the entire motive power necessary therefor and accordingly the action of the float is much freer.

A desirable form in which my invention may be embodied is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 -is an elevation with portions in section ofthe gaging device of this invention supported within a receptacle. Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of a. modilied form of gage supported within a receptacle. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a gage indicator. Fig. Il is a section upon the line Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2S, 1915..

serial No. 774,967.

4 4 of Fig. '2; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

" The receptacle which contains the fluid is indicated at l., and may be of ordinary design. At the upper portion thereof there 1s an opening 2 which is surrounded by a fitting 3, the jointure between the fitting and the container being liquid tight. 'Ihe fitting 3 is provided with an inwardly turned flange 3a at the upper portion thereof, and upon this rests a packing ring 4. Above the packing ring is a plate 5, and resting upon the plate is a second packing ring 6. Above the last mentioned packing ring is a glass plate 7, and holding these all in place is a cap 8, which is provided with screw threads upon the interior lower portion thereof, which engage with screw threads formed upon the outer portion of the litting 3. This cap is formed with an inwardly extended flange at the upper portion which engages with the glass 7 and, as will be apparent, when the vcap is screwed down, it will tightly hold all the various elements which have been superimposed one above the other. The packing will be compressed so as to make a tight joint.

A depending rod 9 is secured to the plate 5, and this rod extends downwardly to substa-ntially the bottom of the receptacle. Adjacent the lower end of the rod 9 thereis pivoted an indicator rod 10. This rod eX- tends upwardly to the top of the container, and indicates, by its movement, the quantity of fluid within the container. One way of visualizing this indication may be by a construction such as shown in Fig. 2, whereinv By means of the rod 9 there is slidably guided a. float 1l. In the particular construction shown, the guiding is accomplished by vproviding the float with an opening 12, which is of such a size with respect to the diameter of the rod that the float may freely slide upon the same.

iii

\ The ioat is also slidably mounted upon the indicator 10. In the particular instance shown, this mounting is accomplished by an arm 13 which is provided with an openingv of 'sufficienty size that the saine -may slide upon theindictor rod 10.

In .the form shown in Fig. 2, .the fitting 3 which surrounds the opening in the upper part of the tank, as in the case shown in Fig. 1, supports a packing ring 4 and a dial plate 5 above the same.` This plate is formed with a central openingv through which extends a sleeve 17, and through the sleeve thereA extends 'a short arm or crank 18,

:fally connected with the indicator rod 23 -Which at its lower portion is bent at an angle withl respect to the upper portion to form 'an extension, and the pivotal connection bel'tween the rod-22 and the indicator rod 23 lies substantially in the longitudinal axis of 'the` rody 22.

-A -float 24; is slidably mounted upon the rod 22. In the particular instance shown, the Heat is provided with an opening 25, so that the ioat has a sliding fit on the rod 22. The -ioat is alsoslidably mounted upon the rod 23, and in the instance shown, .this is accomplished by an arm 26, which has an y opening in it through which the rod 23 may pass.

-The operation 'of the device is obvious, for, as the liquid is caused to enter the tank,

it will elevate the float,'and as the float is elevatedit will be held in a fixed path of movement by the guide rods 9 or 22. This rising of the fioat will therefore permit the indicator rods to move away from its guide rod, and'in this manner operate the indicating mechanism so that the dial pointer will indicate the quantity of liquid within the tank. Obviously, the device must i'irst be calibrated, but, after once calibrated, will indicate with accuracy the quantity of liquid in the tank. v

In both of the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the indicator rods are so mounted, that if free to move, they would, by their own weight, fall away from the supporting or guiding rods. That is tosay, a vertical line through the center of gravity of the indicating means does not pass through the pivotal point between the indicator rod and its support. As before stated, it is not necessarythat the indicator rod be pivoted upon the supporting rods 9 or 22, nor is it necessary that the pivoting of the indicator rod be in line with the longitudinal axis of the supporting rod. This forms a convenient method of manufacture, but the only precaution to be observed is, as before stated, that the vertical plane of the center of gravity lies beyond the pivotal point of the indicator rod.

In this manner, it will be seen that the float does not have to lift the weight of the guide rod, as it ascends. It is merely restraining the indicator rod from falling to its eXtreme position.- In this manner, the apparatus is more sensitive, and less likely to indicate erroneously the quantity of Huid withinthe tank.

It will be noted in both Figs. 1 and 2, that the oat is mounted upon theguiding rod, so as to be slightly olf center. In this way, the iioat is prevented, or substantially prevented from'binding upon the rod 9 as it ascends.

If the float be mounted centrally upon the rod 9, or the rod 22, then ywhen it is elevated by rising on the liquidwhich enters the tank, the slight dragging action of the arm 13 or the arm 26 upon the guide rod would tend to cant the iioat, and in this manner produce a binding action. By arranging the float with respect to the rod 9, and the indicator rod 10, as shown in the drawing, it will be seen that a greater buoyant action will take place upon that portion of the iioat which lies between the two rods than upon that portion of thc oat which is beyond the supporting rod, and the parts are so arranged that the buoyant action upon the portion of the float between the supporting rod and the guide rod will overcome the slight drag between the float and the indicator arm, and will thus prevent the canting of the float.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing and have described the best forni of my invention now known to me, but I am well aware that it is not the only form, as the means whereby the indicating rod is given a tendency to move from the indicating position of low 'level to the indicating position of a higher level may be modiied within the skill of the mechanic and other and equivalent means substituted for those member, said indicator member having a free end adapted to move to indicating position and a pivoted end beneath the oat and said member being offset from its pivot,

whereby the center of gravity of said eating member is between its pivotal point and the engagement with the float, and havnite-,ina

ing its upper end bent toward a vertical plane passing through said, pivot so that the indicator member tends normally to fall` dicator means pivoted at one end, the opposite end being free to move to an indicating position, a oat having sliding .engagement with both the indicator member and the guiding means, said indicator member being pivoted adjacent an end of the guiding means at a point which lies between the longitudinal axis of the guiding means, and

a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the indicator memberu 3. in a fluid gage indicator, the combination with a. fixed guiding means, of an indicator rod, a float engaging the indicator rod,

and guided by the guiding means, said indicator rod having a free end adaptedto move to indicating position, and a pivoted end mounted beneath the fioat, said indicator rod being offset from its pivot so that the center of gravity thereoflies beyond the vertical plane of the pivotal axis of the indicating rod, and having its upper end bent toward a vertical plane passing through said pivot,

the float as it rises along the guiding means permitting 'the indicator means to fall away from the guiding rod under restraint, to indicating position. l

il. :in a fluid gage indicator, the combina* tion of a xed guiding means, of an indicator rod free at one end to move to an indicating position and at its opposite end having an angular extension, said indicating rod being pivoted at the end of the angular extension, the angle between the parts of the indicating rod being such that the indicating rod normally tends to fall 'away from the guiding mea-ns, a float having sliding engagement with both indicating rod and guiding means, thereby restraining the indicating rod to move in fixed relationship to the guiding means as the float ascends the guiding means.

5. ln a fluid tion with a fixedguiding means, .of an indicator member, a float engaging the indicator member and guided by the guiding means, said indicator member having a free end adapted to be moved to indicating position,

" and a pivotedend mounted adjacent the guiding means, said indicator member being so pivoted that it tends to fall away from the guiding means, the float as it rises along the guiding means permitting the indicator member to fall away from the guiding means, the center of gravity of said float lying between the guiding member andthe indicator means.

,6. In a fluid gage indicator, the combinagage indicator, the combinaW` tion with a fixed guiding means, of an indicator member free at'one end to moveto an indicating position andat` itsopposite end pivoted ata point such thatnormally the indicator member tendsto fall away "from the guiding means, afloat slidably mounted upon one of 'said' means-and slidably engaging with the other of saidzmeans, said float being so mounted thatithegreatei" portion ofits mass lies betweenthe 'indicatorfmeme ber and the guiding means. 7. In a fluid gage indicator, thecombination with -a fixed'guiding rod, of an.l indicator rod having one endy free to moveto indi eating position and pivoted ,at` thefopposite end, a float having an opening through the body thereof, saidopening being oil' center,

said float being so mounted that oneof said rods extends through the opening therein,

said float being adapted toslidably'engage the other rod, substantially as specified.

8. ln a fluid gage indicator, the combination with a- 'fixed guiding rod, of an indicator rod pivoted at one-end, afloat 'having slid-- ing engagement with both indicator and guiding rod, a 'crank arm with which the end of the indicator rod opposite the pivoted end has engagement, a dial plate, a short shaft extending through the dial plate and secured at one end to the aforesaid crank, an indicating'member secured to the opposite end of said crank.. Y

9. ln a fluid gage indicator, the combination with a fixed guiding rod, of an. indicator rod pivoted at one end `adjacent the inner end ofthe guiding rod at a point such that normally the indicator rodtends to fall away from the guiding rod, a ioat havingA sliding engagement with both indicator rod and guiding rod, a crank with which the end'of the guiding rod opposite to the pivtill Y having a slot therein throughwhich the said indicatingrod extends to guide the same.

1,0, ln an indicating device-comprising a guide, a float adapted to move from a lower to a higher level corresponding to the level ofI liquid, an indicating member inclined relative to the path of movement of the float, a connection between the float and indicating member permitting relative movement between said parts, said indicating member tending to move its indicating portion from the position of a low level toward the position of a higher level and said float being adapted tocontrol such movement of said indicating'member during the rising movement of the float.

11. An indicating device comprising a per higher level corresponding to the level 'of liquid, an .indicating memberinclined `-relative to the path of movement of the float,

, a connection between the'float and indicating memberl permitting relative movement 'v between said parts, said. indicating member having an excess of weight on one side of its pivot, said excess of weight tending to move Hthe indicating member from an indicating position of low levell to an indicating posi- 'ticn of higher level,- and said float being adapted to control such movement ofsaid 1 of liquid, indicating mechanism comprising 1an-indicating member linclined relative to the path of movement of the ioat, a connection between the float and indicating member permitting relative movement between said parts, `said indicating mechanism having a pivotal support and having its center of gravity falling outside of its pivot and on the side of said pivot tending to move said inclined indicating member into parallelism with the path of movement of the oat, and said i'loat being adapted to control such movement of said indicating member during the rising movement of the ioat..

In testimony whereof, I hereunto alix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PHELPS `M. FREER. 

